'Real Housewives of Atlanta's' Apollo Nida sentenced to 8 years in prison in federal fraud case

This 2014 image released by Bravo shows Apollo Nida, left, and his wife Phaedra Parks, cast members on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," during the taping of a reunion special in Atlanta. Federal prosecutors said Tuesday, July 8, 2014, that 35-year-old Nida has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. He was also ordered to pay restitution to victims of a $2.3 million scheme during his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Nida is the husband of Phaedra Parks, one of the reality show's stars. He pleaded guilty May 6 to conspiring to commit mail, wire and bank fraud. (AP Photo/Bravo, Wilford Harewood)

ATLANTA – The husband of a "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges.

Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that 35-year-old Apollo Nida was also ordered to pay restitution to victims of a $2.3 million scheme during his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. Nida is the husband of Phaedra Parks, one of the reality show's stars. He also appears on the series.

He pleaded guilty May 6 to conspiring to commit mail, wire and bank fraud.

Prosecutors say Nida and co-conspirators since 2009 had stolen checks and used victims' stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns and fraudulent claims against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Authorities say the group laundered money by opening bank accounts in its victims' names.

Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" recently saw a similar scandal when Joe and Teresa Guidice pled guilty in March to defrauding the government. Teresa faces up to 27 months in prison. Joe faces up to 46 months and could be deported to Italy.